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Arrival
If you are following our 10-day itinerary through Spain, you will arrive in Barcelona from your tour of Madrid around 5:30 PM. While there really won’t be any museums or attractions open, making good use of this time is important on a 10-day trip to Spain.
While you will obviously need to check-in to your hotel and drop your bags, you will have 3 or more hours after arrival until the traditional Spanish dinner time.
Some of the best ways to fill this time are to see one of the natural sights that are open 24/7 (listed below). The best choice will depend on where you are staying and what is interesting to you:
- Walking tour of Barri Gothic (old Gothic District) – historic center of the old city of Barcelona. Includes the oldest portions of the city such as Roman walls and landmarks.
- Walking tour of El Born area – known for its narrow medieval streets that has been transformed into modern trendy boutiques and cafes. This would also be a good place to visit a cocktail bar or samba at night.
- Parc de la Ciutadella – Large park near the harbor with monuments, fountains, and walking trails.
Full Day in Barcelona
Unfortunately on a short 10-day itinerary to Spain, some cities won’t get a lot of time. Barcelona is one of those areas as you will only get a day and a half of exploration before you head back home. However, we will make the most of the day and a half. This first day is jammed packed with the best sights in Barcelona.
Basilica of the Sagrada Familia
The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia (also known as the Sagrada Familia) is a famous minor basilica in the Roman Catholic Church. The church is the masterpiece of the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. The design of the basilica is unlike any church elsewhere in the world. It combines the Gothic, Art Nouveau, and Modernisme styles. Barcelona (and the Catalonia region more generally) is known for the Modernisme style making this construction uniquely suited for the city.
The ongoing construction of the basilica is also a claim to fame. The ground was broken on the church in 1882 by Antoni Gaudí himself. The plans that Gaudí put forward for the church were so enormous and complex that Gaudí knew that the church would not be complete before he passed away. For this reason, Gaudí constructed some of the most important elements of the church first that would ensure that his vision would not be easily changed. Construction of the church has been continuing for over 125 years. The target for completion was 2026 in line with the centennial of Gaudí’s death in 1926. However, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic in 2020 has put this date in jeopardy.
Sagrada Familia Visitor’s Information
While construction is still occurring, large portions of the basilica are complete. Mass is regularly held on Sundays in the basilica and visitors are welcomed. In addition, if you visit on a visitor’s ticket you are able to see the Nave, Crypt, Museum, Shops, and the Nativity and Passion steeples/facade. Visiting the Sagrada Familia is very popular and entry is via timed ticket. It is not unheard of during peak season (late-May to early-October) for all tickets to be sold out for several days.
Pro Traveler Tip: Free Entrance to Sagrada Familia
As an operating church, mass is held in the Roman Catholic tradition on Sunday mornings at 9 AM. If you are trying to save on entrance fees, consider attending mass. The mass is done in three languages (Spanish, English, and Catalan) and the music fills this enormous church.
If you do go this route, please be respectful of the church environment. It is inappropriate to take pictures or tours while mass is in progress. You will have a little time before and after services to discretely take pictures if desired.
Upon arrival at the church, a security screening will take place. No food or drinks (other than water) are allowed in the basilica. The screening is the same for visitors and Mass-goers on Sundays. I suggest walking around the exterior of the basilica to get a view of the enormity of the structure either before or after touring the inside. Some of the best architectural gems are also located around the exterior of the basilica.
Basilica of the Sagrada Familia Quick Info
- Website: https://sagradafamilia.org/en/home
- Fee: €17 for entrance, €20 for entrance + audio guide, €33 for entrance + tower visit
- Hours of Operation:
- March & October: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- April to September: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- November to February: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Duration: 1 – 2 hours
- Suggested Timeline: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Casa Mila (La Pedrera)
Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera) was a private residence (a mansion in downtown Barcelona) designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. The residence is built in the Modernismo style which is famous in Barcelona and a hallmark of Gaudí. The shapes of the building do not follow any normal lines. The structure gives the illusion of being carved from one piece of grey rock, hence the “La Pedrera” nickname (which translates to “quarry” in English).
The structure fell into disrepair during the 20th century as the building changed its owners. Saving the building started with Casa Mila being designated a historic monument in July 1969. Even with the designation, restoration work did not begin until February 1987. This work was begun as part of the Cultural Olympiad of Barcelona in preparation for its hosting of the 1992 Olympics.
Casa Mila Visitor Tips
Visitors to Casa Mila will be greeted by this unique structure and will be able to explore much of the interior. The inside of this home shows off the courtyard, patios, a loft (sometimes referred to as the “whale loft” due to its shape), and furniture specifically designed by Gaudí. In addition, visitors are able to explore the stepped roof of Casa Mila. Here Gaudí disguised chimneys and skylights into an art piece. Because of this, the roof has gained the nickname “the garden of warriors” because the disguised chimneys appear to be guarding much of the roof.
While several of the apartments and rooms are set apart for visitors to tour, many of the apartments still house local residents.
Pro Traveler Tip: High-Cost Entrance in Barcelona
The cost to enter Casa Mila is a little high at €24 Euros for what you get. If you are particularly interested in Gaudí’s work or are an architecture buff, I suggest that you pay the entrance fee. If this isn’t something that you get very interested in, much of Casa Mila can be seen from the exterior.
Casa Mila Quick Info
- Website: https://www.lapedrera.com/en
- Fee: €24/person, €34/person for the night tour
- Hours of Operation: Friday – Sunday 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Night Tour: 8:40 PM – 10:00 PM
- Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
- Suggested Timeline: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Pro Traveler Tip: Casa Batillo
Casa Batillo is another similar Gaudí-designed Modernismo-styled house a few blocks from Casa Mila. Casa Mila gets more attention and has a more interesting interior. However, if you are in the area, walking past this house from the outside will give you another opportunity to observe the work of this architectural pioneer. You should definitely walk by this one if you skip the interior tour of Casa Mila.
Palace of Catalan Music
The Palace of Catalon Music (Palau de la Musica Catalana) is a popular concert hall. As is typical of architecture in Barcelona, this concert hall is built in the Modernista style of the early 20th century. As an active concert hall, if you are able to find a musical performance to your liking I would suggest you take the opportunity to have that experience. The hall hosts acts ranging from choral and vocal to symphonic. A great thing about music is that like many art forms it transitions language boundaries well. Even if a choral or vocal performance is on the schedule, someone who only speaks English can enjoy a Spanish performance in this space.
If you aren’t lucky enough to have a performance occurring during your visit that works for your schedule, I still recommend a guided tour to see the space. The concert hall is most famous for its stained glass ceiling that is suppose to mimic the sky. Equally impressive is the detail in every area of the theater (columns, organ, balconies, etc…). The guided tour is well done and lasts approximately one hour. During COVID, the personally guided tour has turned into an audio guide. This is still well done and worth the visit if you are in the area, but hopefully, person-led tours will return soon.
Palace of Catalan Music Quick Info
- Website: https://visits.palaumusica.cat/en
- Fee: €10/person
- Hours of Operation:
- Guided Tours: Fridays – Sundays 10 AM – 3:30 PM
- Performances: See schedule – https://www.palaumusica.cat/en
- Duration: 1 hour
- Suggested Timeline: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Picasso Museum
The final must-see in Barcelona for today is the Picasso Museum. As you will undoubtedly know by now, Spain is famous for its artists (particularly the painters). Pablo Picasso spent much of his youth in Barcelona. It was in this city that Pablo began his tutelage under his father as he learned to paint. While many of Picasso’s later and most famous works are housed in other Spanish museums such as the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, the Picasso Museum hosts much of his early works. These early works are in the Realism style as opposed to the Cubist style of much of his more popular later works.
The museum possesses over 4,251 works by Picasso including drawings, engravings, ceramics, and paintings. These works are divided into various stages in the life of Picasso located in five adjacent buildings that compose the museum. As you walk through each building, you can see the growth of Picasso’s work as he developed his skills. You will also be able to see how his style morphs through life. The museum also highlights various influences in his life that caused a change in the art he produced.
As is becoming common with many museums in Europe, backpacks are not allowed inside.
Pro Traveler Tip: Free Entry to Picasso Museum
Free Entry to the Picasso Museum is available on Thursdays after 5 PM and on the first Sunday of each month. Even though the museum is free you will need to book a ticket in advance as they limit the numbers.
Picasso Museum Quick Info
- Website: http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en
- Fee: €12/person
- Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Sundays 10 AM – 7 PM
- Duration: 2 – 3 hours
- Suggested Timeline: 3:30 PM – Until
Barcelona: Final Day
It’s sad your time in Barcelona is drawing to a close. The 10-day tour across Spain is also wrapping up as you will return home later today. There is just enough time before you need to head to the airport to see one last quintessential Barcelona sight.
La Rambla
This tree-lined pedestrian street running through the heart of Barcelona is a must for every visitor. La Rambla neighbors the Barri Gothic (Gothic Quarter) and has become a very popular walk. The street is 1.2 kilometers/0.8 miles long starting at the Christopher Columbus monument on the coast and ending at the Placa de Catalunya, or vice versa. The street is paved with tiles and mosaics from end to end. While the street has grown in popularity with tourists (which has shifted the atmosphere of the street), it is still a great walk through the center of Barcelona. Because of the tourist draw, the crowding of the streets can be an issue during the tourist high season.
Start at Placa de Catalunya and walk towards the coast. Along the way, several side streets and attractions make for good stops. If you are a shopper or are interested in souvenirs now that the trip is drawing to a close, there any many shops along this street. More established stores are located in the buildings surrounding this street. Due to its popularity, kiosks and other vendors have set up on the street as well. These kiosks tend to be more targeted at tourists so I would tend to avoid these.
La Rambla Quick Info
- Fee: Free
- Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday: 8:00am – 8:30pm
- Duration: 2.5 hours (1 hour walking, 45 minute La Boqueria, 45 minute breakfast)
- Suggested Timeline: 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM
In addition to the stores, a couple of other stops will be of interest along La Rambla. First is Mercat de la Boqueria & second the Royal Square (Placa Reial). More detail on La Boqueria and the Royal Square follows. Once you reach the end of La Rambla you will be in the Barcelona harbor. The Rambla extends into the harbor with Rambla de Mar. This picturesque walkway above the harbor is a great way to see this Mediterranean harbor. The Rambla de Mar ends at a modern mall. Nothing is very special about the mall, so after you have had your fill of the Mediterranean harbor views I would move on.
Mercat de la Boqueria
La Boqueria is a large public market known for its diverse selection of goods. The market attracts a large number of tourists due to the selection and its location just off La Rambla. As with most of the other attractions in Barcelona, if you are here during the high season be prepared for crowds. Even if you are traveling at a time with a lot of crowds, the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this market are worth the hassle.
Wander the many stalls to see the large selection of seafood including huge slabs of salted cod, barnacles, razor clams, and even snails. The market also has large showings of ham (a popular staple in Spain), cheese, fruits, and fresh juices. The prices are a little elevated, but you pay a little extra for the experience.
A longtime tenant of La Boqueria is Pinotxos bar. Despite the very touristy feel of the market, Pinotxos has remained popular with the locals as well. Pinotxos is very popular for breakfast so if you are able to snag a stool for the early morning meal you won’t regret it.
As seating in the market is limited, a good option is to first explore the market while scouting out what you want to eat. Once you have decided, grab the food to go and carry your breakfast a little farther down La Ramblas. You can turn this into a great urban picnic with sufficient people watching if seating is not available in the market.
Placa Reial (Royal Square)
The next “side-street stop” on La Rambla is Placa Reial or the Royal Square in English. Once you enter this square you will observe that it has a similar feel to the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. (If you haven’t seen the Plaza Mayor, I recommend checking out our The Best of Madrid in a Two and a Half Day Itinerary.) The square is anchored by a central fountain and is surrounded by buildings with arched facades. There are several restaurants and cafes set up with outdoor tables around the exterior of the square.
While I wouldn’t travel across the city to see the square, I would take the short time necessary to travel one block off La Rambla to see it. If you didn’t get any food while at Mercat de la Boqueria, the restaurants and cafes around this square would make a perfect place to grab some food and enjoy a nice Barcelona morning.
Return Flight
Your flight time home will be highly dependent on the season and where you are traveling back to. This itinerary assumes a 1 PM flight departure from BCN, Barcelona’s local international airport. Departures are fairly common between 12 PM and 2 PM for flights headed to North America. However, you will find some flights leave as early as 10 AM, and others can be found departing as late as 5 PM headed back across the Atlantic. Obviously, you will need to modify the itinerary so that it fits with your flights.
For a flight departing at 1 PM, the latest you should arrive at the airport is 11 AM. Given that the airport is a 20-minute drive from central Barcelona, leaving for the airport around 10:30 AM is a good plan.
Wrap-up
I hope you have enjoyed this 10-day itinerary of Spain. Please comment on any thoughts or suggestions on this journey to Barcelona (or any of the other stops on this trip).
